Bhubaneswar: Former Minister and Nimapara MLA Samir Ranjan Dash resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday, following the party's decision to deny him a ticket for the upcoming assembly elections.

Dash submitted his resignation letter to BJD President Naveen Patnaik, expressing his disappointment.

"The BJD has lost confidence in me and the party organizations in Gop and Nimapara. Hence, it will not be wise to stay in the party anymore. Therefore, I have resigned from the primary membership of the BJD," Dash said in a video message.

A seasoned politician, Dash was elected to the State Assembly three times consecutively in 2009, 2014, and 2019. He also served as the School and Mass Education Minister in Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet.

The decision to resign came after the BJD allotted the party ticket for Nimapara to Dilip Nayak, a recent defector from the BJP, instead of Dash.